Ángel Fournier

Ángel Fournier was Cuba’s most successful rower, winning multiple medals at international events. Fournier began rowing when he was 12 after his talents were spotted by coaches. In 2005, when he was 17, he took part in his first international race, finishing in sixth place in the single sculls. At the 2013 World Championships Fournier won the silver medal in the single sculls. He went on to win two more World Championship medals with a bronze in 2014 and another silver in 2017. From 2007 to 2019 he won six medals at the Pan American Games including five golds.

Fournier competed at three Olympic Games; 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2016 Rio de Janeiro. At the Beijing Games he was part of the quadruple sculls team that finished in 12th place. For the 2012 and 2016 Games he competed in the single sculls where he finished in seventh and sixth place, respectively.

In 2019 Fournier was suffering with a cardiovascular issue and moved to the United States the following year. He was married to Cuban kayaker Yusmari Mengana and planned to retire with his wife and children in Dallas, Texas. Sadly Fournier died from a heart attack in March 2023. He was 35.